State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) today released following statement after the General Assembly failed to pass a balanced budget by the May 31^st deadline:

“I went into this week hoping we could achieve a full-year, truly balanced budget along with real reforms to grow the economy. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

“It’s extremely disappointing that instead of focusing on working with us to pass a balanced budget, House Democrats would rather point their fingers at Republicans for their failures. The fact is Democrats have been in charge of both the Senate and House for the past 12 years and in those years they increased spending, raised taxes, raided pensions, and used one-time revenue generating gimmicks to pass these unbalanced budgets. On top of that our revenues have not matched our expenditures for more than 15 years.

“The state is feeling the cost of these failures. We have $130 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, the fifth highest tax burden in the nation, and have lost more residents than any other state for three straight years.

“My Republican colleagues and I have reached across the aisle numerous times, asking for House Democrats to work with us on a balanced budget that will move our state forward. Democrats have flat out ignored our requests.

“It is time we stop the games, time to stop the politics, and stop hurting the people we are sworn to serve. I am looking forward to getting back to the 117^th district to meet with constituents and talk about the many concerns they have surrounding the way session ended in Springfield.”